Why did Argentina invade the Falklands when they did, rather than wait for the pending sale of the UK aircraft carriers to complete first?
Upvote:0
There were two aircraft carriers used in the Falklands war, HMS Hermes, and HMS Invincible. Both continued in service, I think I am right in saying, for several years after the conflict.
But the Argentine air force was defeated, not so much by the VTO Harriers as by the ship-based missile systems. Given that the Royal Navy was geared up for a potential conflict with the Soviet Union, and policed the entire eastern Atlantic from Greenland to the Cape, as it largely still does, with inter-alia, packs of nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarines, it would have been a remarkable thing if it had proven unable to knock over a 17-ship navy in the south Atlantic. The total number of ships used by Britain in the expedition was, I think, over 200.
Indeed had an Argentine victory at any time have appeared remotely possible I believe the United States would have been obliged to become involved in support, as a British defeat in such circumstances would have represented an intolerable blow to NATO morale.
Upvote:14
They had originally planned the invasion to happen later, but it was rushed forward for internal political reasons. The population was getting restless, and "liberating the Malvinas" was seen by the junta as a good way to bolster support in the light of a faltering economy.
Classic case of using foreign military adventures to distract people from internal economic problems.
Read The Falklands War by Martin Middlebrook for both the military and political events leading up to (and happening during) the war. ISBN of printed edition 978-1848846364
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